Automatic player mechanism for



Nov. 15, 1949 P. T. CALAMARI ET AL 2,488,170

AUTOMATIC PLAYER MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed March 10, 1949 I 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS ATTORN EYS Nov. 15,1949 P. "r. CALAMARI ET AL 2,488,170

AUTOMATIC PLAYER MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed March 10, 1949 4 SheetsShee'l; 2

ATTORN EYS Nov. 15, 1949 P. T. CALAMARI ET AL 2,488,170

AUTOMATIC PLAYER MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed March 10, 1949' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN ENTORS P002 I m/m/P/ Pam f. flu/epoc/c ATTORNEYS Nov. 15, 1949 P. T. CALAMARI ET AL AUTOMATIC PLAYER MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 10, 1949 INVENTOR 3M f (SEQ 5 M3 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 15, 1 949 AUTOMATIC PLAYER MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Peter T. Calamari, Deep River, and Paul F. Murdock, Clinton, Conn., assignors to The Aeolian Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 10, 1949, Serial No. 80,582

29 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic player mechanisms for musical instruments, and more particularly to player mechanisms for piano and similar keyboard type musical instruments which will cause such instruments to reproduce music automatically under the control of a perforated note sheet. The invention pertains particularly to a player mechanism which may be placed directly over the piano keyboard without permanent connection to the piano when it is desired to operate the instrument automatically, and which may be easily lifted from its position over the keyboard and set aside, on top of the piano or elsewhere, to permit playing the piano manually.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved automatic player mechanisms of the class described. It is an object of the invention to provide an automatic player mechanism which is small in size, light in weight and attractive in appearance, and which, because of the simplicity of construction, is easily serviced and maintained in operating condition. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been selected for the purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automatic piano player mechanism shown in position for playing that instrument;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the righthand end of the player action mechanism shown in relation to the piano keyboard, the casing being broken away to disclose the internal construction;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the right-hand end of the player mechanism, showing the key striking buttons;

Figure 4 is substantially a vertical section transversely through the player mechanism, some of the parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a portion of the view shown in Figure 4, to enlarged scale, disclosing additional features of the connection between the action pneumatic and the key striki poppe Figure 6 is a partial end elevation of the lefthand end of the player action, partly broken away in section to disclose more clearly the means by which the height of the player mechanism over the piano keyboard may be adjusted;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing modifications and additions, including 2 posts projecting downwardly from the adjusting blocks to protect the key striking buttons and poppets when the player is removed from the piano keyboard and placed on top of the piano, or elsewhere;

Figure 8 is a view, to reduced scale, looking toward the right hand side .of the structure shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view looking down on a modified form of tray for supporting the striking poppets and the action pneumatics, one striking poppet and one action pneumatic being shown; and

Figure 10 is an end elevation looking toward the lower end of Figure 9.

Corresponding parts in the several views usually are identified by similar reference characters, even where there are differences in structural details.

Player attachments designed to be placed over a piano keyboard for playing the piano automatically under control of a perforated note sheet have been proposed heretofore. Such attachments have been large and heavy. They have been unwieldy to place in position over the keyboard for automatic operation of the piano, and

to remove when it was desired to play the piano manually. Because of their size and shape the player attachments of the prior art did not lend themselves to attractive design and styling of the cabinets in which they were encased, and when mounted in playing position on a piano they detracted from its appearance, the size and weight of such attachments have also presented problems in the storage thereof when not in actual position for use on the piano.

It has been recognized in some of the player attachments of the prior art that the player mechanism should be adjustably mounted over the keyboard to permit some control over the spacing between the'keyboard and the player attachment. However, such adjusting means have been inadequate to accomplish the desired result easily and completely and they have not per-. mitted individual adjustment of the key striking means to space the latter accurately over the keys.

The problem of assembling all of the player mechanism, except the vacuum pump, in the player attachments of the prior art has resulted in severe crowding of the parts. This has increased the time required and the difliculty involved in making the original assembly of the player in the factory and, what is even more important, has made it much more difficult to service and maintain the player in the field.

i'By important changes made in the design of the elements of the player mechanisms heretofore known, applicant has been able to reduce substantially the size and weight thereof, and to produce a player attachment which is free from objectionable features found in the prior art players.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, a player mechanism made in accordance with the present invention is disclosed mounted in operative position relative to a piano, the piano being outlined in dot-dash lines. The complete player comprises a player action unit H, which is sup. ported over the keyboard by resting on the key blocks ill at the end of the keyboard, a pump unit l2, which is placed on the floor under the keyboard or at one end of the piano, and a flexible supply tube l3 connecting the player a tion nd pump units. The supply tube 13 is detachably connected to the player action and pump units so that it may be removed when not in use, andv for ease in handling the units.

The pump unit 42 comprises means for producing suction through the supply tube 13 to the wind chest of the player unit H for operating the player mechanism. The details of the pump unit structure form no part of the invention to be claimed in this application and they are not illustrated, but the pump unit I2 will contain a vacuum pump for producing the suction, an electric motor for driving the pump, a suction reservoir for supplying a reserve of Suction to the player act-ion unit, and a spill valve for setting the normal pump pressure. The motor of the pump unit will be provided with an electric cord and plug or plugging into a convenient base outlet.

The player mechanism of the present invention is designed to Operate at considerably higher suction than ordinarily used in automatic player mechanisms, a reduced air, pressure of the order of 5 /2 inches of mercury being desirable. The use of this higher suction permits substantial reduction in the size of the action pneumatics and makes possible the use of the key striking poppets to be described hereinafter,

In addition to connecting th suction reservoir of the pump unit 12 t the player action unit H, the supply tube l3 serves as a conduit for electric wires. These wires supply power to a small elec-- tric motor in the player action unit for driving the mu ic 0 s o and a so per t con r he operat o of the vacuum p mp m or from the player action unit ii. The Supply tube l3 desirab y i p ovid d at both ends w h qui deta h ble onnector which vfurnish tigh nhections ior the suction l n and lso pr i e e ec rical connec ons t r the p w an co t ol Wirescontaincd w thin the ube.

As is shown i F u e .1, he pla a ion unit 11 is plac d directly over th pian key oard nd s supported at its nds on the k y b o ks l5.- M dway of he player action i a spo l ox 16. Fin er h lds 54 ar placed on either end of the spool box to facilitate handling of the player action un t- Th s player unit may be quic y an ea i y p aced on the piano over the keyboard, or lifted from t e k yboard when. it is desired to pla he ian m ua y.- When not in use, the player action un t may e s t on top of. he piano, if u e W t a modern spinet ype piano. or it can he pl ce i a protec ive case and tood on end in a corner or a c set Contained within t upper p r f e spool box it are aligned spindles for removably holding a music roll, and in the lower part of the box is a take-up roll ll for drawing the perforated note sheet from the music roll and over the tracker bar [3 when the player is operating. Means are provided for closing the spool box when the player mechanism not being used, for example a tambour roll top indicated at [9. Broadly, these features of the spool box are conventional in the art and further description is believed unnecessary for a full understanding of the present invention.

Means permitting complete control of the operation of the player mechanism are provided on the casing of the player action unit H and preferably are located adjacent the spool box for ease and convenience in operation. For example, the buttons g1, 3 and 23 may control, respectively, the start and stop, re-roll, and re-play operations; 24 may control the volume; 25 and 26 may be the bass and treble volume or expression controls; and 21 maybe the tempo control.

Figures 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings disclose the flanges 30, and on their lower surfaces, which will engage the key blocks 15, with pads 28, for example or" leather, cloth or the like to prevent scratching or marring the finish of the key blocks. When the player action unit is pushed back on the piano until the flanges 30 rest against the forward ends of the key blocks IS, the key striking buttons will be correctly positioned over the keys for operation.

The rest blocks 29 are adjustably attached to the adjusting blocks 3i secured, in turn, to the ends of the elongated base plate 32 upon which the player action is constructed. The adjusting blocks 31 may be made of Wood, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, or of metal. If made of metal, they desirably are made'light in weight, either by use of a light metal such as aluminum, or by a grid or skeleton construction, as shown in Figures '7 and 8, or by both.

By relative adjustment of the adjusting block 3| and the rest block 25, the player mechanism may be adjusted vertically with respect to the keyboard. In this manner, variations in the heights of key blocks on different pianos may be accommodated for and the player mechanism may be brought'to therdesired distance above the keyboard. When properly adjusted there should be a slight amount of lost motion or space between the key striking buttons and the piano keys.

In the illustrative embodiment, as may be seen in Figures 6 and 7, a height-adjusting screw 33 is secured in the adjusting block 31 by a cotter pin. 34, the ew bein r o turn ithout longitudinal movement relative to the adjusting block. The end of the screw 33 engages a threaded hole in the rest block 29- orde to steady the. adlusti g block relative to the rest block a d to prevent the base p ate 32 from tippin r lative to the-piano keyboard. uide pins 35 a e employ d- As shown, the guide pins 35 are mounted in the Test block and free to slide in close-fitting openings in the adjusting block, and desirably the guide pins are located both in front and in back of the adjusting screw. By turning the screws 33 at both ends of the player action unit I! the unit may be readily adjusted to the desired height over the keyboard.

The base plate 32 is a thin plate of substantially the same length as the keyboard and only slightly wider than the keyboard. This base plate preferably is made of aluminum or other light weight metal. In order to stiffen the base plate the longitudinal edges thereof are turned down to form reinforcing flanges as shown at 36. The base plate also is stiffened by the adjusting blocks 3| secured to its ends, as by means of screws.

The base plate 32 is further reinforced and strengthened by securing to its upper surface, intermediate the flanged longitudinal edges, an elongated tubular stiffening member El extending substantially the entire length of the base plate. As shown the tubular member 3'! is rectangular in transverse section and one edge thereof is secured firmly to the base plate, as by means of screws, or the like, so as to provide a maximum stiffening effect. The tubular member 3'! desirably consists of separate upper and lower chambers, for example being of a light weight metal, extruded, the lower chamber 38 providing the main exhaust chest for the player mechanism and the upper chamber 39, divided approximately midway of its length, providing the controlled exhaust chest. As can best be seen in Figure 3, the base plate 32 is provided with a series of relatively narrow openings 40 aligned and closely spaced along each side of the tubular member 37. The key striking means mounted on the top side of the base plate, in manner to be described hereinafter, extend downwardly through these openings 40 to be in position to strike the piano keys.

By reason of the reinforcing and stifiening action of the edge flanges 36, the longitudinally extending tubular member 31 and the adjusting end blocks 3|, the base plate 32 may be made thin and light in weight, and at the same time it will be adequately strong to support the component parts of the player action unit.

The construction of the novel key striking poppets, to be described, and the small size and simplicity of the poppet actuating means of the present invention lend themselves to a unit and tray type of mounting having numerous important advantages over the constructions of the prior art. As herein disclosed, the key striking poppets and associated action pneumatics for a series of keys are separately mounted on a light metal tray. Any action pneumatic and its associated striking poppet may be removed from the tray without disturbing the adjacent pneumatics and poppets.

The pneumatics controlling the white keys conveniently are arranged seven pneumatics to a tray and these trays are separately secured side by side on the base plate 32 on the front side of the exhaust chests 38, 39. The pneumatics controlling the black keys conveniently are arranged five to a tray and these trays are similarly secured on the base plate on the back side of the exhaust chests 38, 39. The trays are attached to The trays conveniently are made from rectangular pieces of metal, which may be of the same gauge and material as the base plate 32. The trays for holding the pneumatics and striking poppets for the white keys are similar to the trays for the pneumatics and poppets for the black keys, except for slight differences in dimensions and proportions occasioned by the diiferences in arrangement of the white and black keys in the keyboard.

The tray construction disclosed in Figures 2, 3 and 6 will be described first. In this embodiment, one edge of each tray has an upwardly turned flange as shown at 42, and this edge may be further reinforced with a narrow metal strip 43, spot welded, brazed or otherwise secured to the flange 42, if desired.

Near the edge of each tray 4|, opposite the flange 42, is a series of aligned openings 44 therethrough for receiving and holding guides for the striking poppets. In the illustrative embodiment these openings id are keyhole shaped, being round with keyways extending toward, but stopping short of, the near edge of the tray. The spacing between the centers of the openings 44 in the trays for the action pneumatics and striking poppets for the white keys is equal to the width of the white keys, so that when the trays are arranged on the base plate 32 in juxtaposed alignment in front of the tubular member 31 there will be one striking poppet over each white key. The spacing between the centers of the openings 44 through the trays for the action pneumatics and striking poppets for the black keys is such that when these trays are positioned on the base plate 32 in rear of the tubular member 37 there will be a striking poppet over each black key.

The trays 4| conveniently are secured on the base plate 32 by means of small screws 45 which extend through holes or notches located near the flanged edge 42 of each tray and engage screw threaded openings in the base plate near the reinforcing flanges 36. The opposite edge of each tray preferably is provided with forwardly projecting fingers which extend downwardly through the openings id and under the central portion of the base plate 32 to hold this edge of the tray firmly against the base plate when the flanged edge of the tray is secured to the base plate by the screws 45.

The forwardly projecting fingers may take the form of pins 4-6 secured in the striking poppet guides 47, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Preferably, however, these fingers are formed integrally with the tray, as shown at 5| in Figures 9 and 10.

Any tray 4 I may be removed from the base plate 32 simply by disconnecting the tubes 53 from the exhaust chest 39, removing the few screws 45 holding the flanged edge of the tray down on the base plate, and then lifting the flanged edge of the tray as the tray is moved away from the exhaust chest.

' The striking poppet guides 41 may be made of any suitable material, for example they may be wood, or they may be molded from suitable plastic material. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the poppet guides are blocks which can be inserted through the round portions of the openings 44. The upper ends of these blocks are provided with grooves around three of their sides which engage the tray tightly when pushed into the keyways of the openings 4 1. The poppet guides for the white keys will be somewhat longer than those for the black keys for better guiding of the longer poppet wires required for the white keys, but otherwise they are similar in construction. Slightly different poppet guide designs are disclosed in Figures 4 and'lll, these skeletonized forms permitting a saving in material when the guides are molded from plastic.

Each poppet guide 41 is provided with a vertical hole therethrough to receive and serve as a guide for a poppet wire 48. The wire 48 fits the hole through the guide so that it is free to move up and down in the guide without side sway in re sponse to operation of the poppet actuating mechanism. Secured on the lower end of the wire 48 is the poppet button 49 for striking a piano key. If made of wood, for example, the poppet button 49 is provided with a soft under-surface of felt or the like for engaging the piano key, as shown in Figures 3 and i. Preferably'a rubber tip is employed as the poppet button, as shown at 28 in Figure 10.

The upper portion of the wire 48 is screw threaded and engages'a screw threaded opening in a poppet wire adjusting nut or collar 5%. This nut 59 will be made of suitable material, for example it may be molded from plastic, and desir ably it engages the wire 43 with a tight fit to reduce the danger of accidental turning of the wire in the nut during normal operation of the player mechanism.

The upper tip of the wire 48 is in the form of a polygonal-shaped head which may be engaged by asuitable wrench or pliers for turning the wire in the nut 50. In this way-the height of the poppet button relative to the underlying piano key may be adjusted as desired.

Means are provided for raising the poppet wire 58 and itsbutton away from the keyboard. As shown, a small coil spring surrounds each poppet wire between the top of the guide 41 and the adjusting nut 53. Upward movement of the poppet wire 48 is limited, either by engagement of the poppet button with the bottom of the guide 41, or preferably by the poppet actuating mechanism which engages the adjusting nut 50.

In the illustrative embodiment, the poppet ad justing nut 50 is engaged by a connecting arm 52 secured to the movable board of the action pneumatic 54'. The connecting arm 52 desirably takes the form of a piece of wire bent back upon itself at its middle to shape substantially as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and also in Figures 9 and 10. The apex of this generally V-shaped. connecting arm is removably held under a staple 53 or the like secured in the movable board of the action pneumatic. The slight spring pressure in the bent wire 52 tends to force the two sides of the arm apart and these sides are indented or bent slightly where they engage the sides of the staple 53 so as to insure uniform adjustment and'to eliminate any danger of the wire accidentally shifting under the staple during normal operation of the player mechanism.

The two ends of the wire 52 engage horizontal grooves in vertical ridges on two opposite sides of the adjusting nut 50. When the movable board of the. action pneumatic moves down or up, the arm 52 moves the nut 56 with it as if the two were connected by a pivot pin. This simple connection facilitates rapid assembly and disassembly of the apparatus. In Figure 4 of. the drawings the black key is shown depressed, whereas the white key is in its normal position.

Except for the features pointed out, the action pneumatic 54-itself is more or less conventional in design, but the method of. mounting is believed novel. The end of the fixed board 3 near the poppet wire is pressed against-the op pet guide 41 in interlocking relation so that this end of the board will be held clown against the tray 4| by the poppet guide which is fixed in the keyhole 44. In the illustrative embodiment, the poppet guide is provided with a pin or teat which engages a complementary hole in the end of the fixed board of the action pneumatic.

in the embodiment disclosed in Figure 2 and 4, the opposite end or heel of the action pneumatic 55 is secured firmly to the tray by means or a set screw 55 extending through the flange "and strip 43 and engaging the near end of the fixed board of the action pneumatic. By turning the set screw 55 inwardly until its end engages and holdsthe action pneumatic pressed against both the poppet guide and the tray, the entire interlocking assembly of striking poppet and its actuating mechanism are secured to the tray.

When it is desired for any reason to remove a striking poppet from its tray, all that is necessary is to loosen the set screw 55', hit out the action pneumatic 54, the suction tubes 56 or 58 and 59 first having been disconnected, slide the poppet guide 41 back out of the keyway and then lift the poppet guide up out of the. opening 44; This may be done either when the tray is secured on the base plate 32,. or after the tray has been removed from the base plate. Assembly of the parts is just as simple, the order of the steps merely being reversed.

A further simplified form of tray and arrangement for holding the action pneumatic on the tray is shown in Figures 9 and 10. Instead of having a continuous, upwardly turned flange along one edge, as at 42' in Figures 2 and 4-, this tray 60 has a series of spaced short flanges upwardly turned and formed as shown at 6], each adapted to engage and frictionally hold the heel of an action pneumatic by a slight downward thrust. This formedfiange holds the action pneumatic pressed against both the poppet guide and the tray, the entire interlocking assembly of striking poppet and its actuating mechanism being thereby secured to the tray. in this way the set screws 55 may be eliminated and the time required. for assembling and disassembling is materially shortened.

In other respects the tray 60 is generally similar to the tray 4i, being provided with a series of keyhole shaped openings 44 for receiving the striking poppet guides, and. with holes 62 to receive screws 45 for attaching the tray to the base plate 32 It will be evident from the foregoing description that there is no interconnection. between adjacent striking poppets, or between adjacent action pneumatics. Since all poppets and pneuinatics are equally easily accessible, it is a simple matter to assemble the apparatus during manufacture of the player and to disassemble and reassemble it in the event that step ever should become necessary for adjustment or for repairs later on.

The action pneumatic 54 is connected. in con ventional manner through tube 36, valve 51 and tube 58 to the controlled exhaust chest 39. The valve 51- is connected also through tube 59 to the tracker bar so that the valve 51 may be actuatedv in known manner by perforations in the note sheet to control the connection between the controlled exhaust chest and the. action pneumatic for causing the striking, poppet to strike a key of the piano keyboard.

Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings disclose means for protecting the striking poppets when the player is removed from the keyboard and placed on top of the piano, for instance. The two adjusting blocks 3| at the ends of the player are each provided with downwardly projecting extensions 63 and 64. If the adjusting blocks 3i are metal, these extensions desirably are cast as an integral part thereof. Molded rubber feet 65 and 66 may be slipped on the lower ends of the extensions 63 and 64, respectively, to protect the piano when the player is set on top thereof.

The extension 63 is located in front of the downwardly projecting flange 30 at the forward edge of the rest block 29, whereas the extension 64 is offset inwardly so that it is over the first white key. The extension 64 is made somewhat shorter than extension 63, so that when it is at its lowest position it preferably does not depress the key.

When the player is removed from the keyboard and set on top of the piano, the rubber footed extensions 63 and 64 rest on the piano top and support the player so that the striking poppet buttons are not in contact with the piano top.

The possibilty of damage to the striking poppets modified and embodied within the scope of the i subjoined claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument having a keyboard comprising, in

combination, a thin, elongated base plate of substantially the same length as the keyboard, rest blocks secured to the ends of the base plate adapted to rest on key blocks at the ends of the keyboard for supporting the player mechanism over the keyboard, means whereby the rest blocks may be adjusted vertically relative to the base plate to adjust the player mechanism vertically with respect to the keyboard and thus accommodate for the height of the key blocks and bring the player mechanism to the desired distance above the keyboard, a plurality of striking D D- pets supported by the base plate over the keys and having buttons on their lower ends for striking the keys, a plurality of poppet actuating devices supported by the base plate and operatively associated with the striking poppets, and means whereby the striking poppets may be individually adjusted vertically relative to the base plate to accommodate for variations in the heights of the keys and bring each poppet button to the desired distance above its key.

2. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 1, in which the rest blocks are provided at their forward edges with downwardly projecting flanges which rest against the forward edges of the key blocks when the player mechanism is in playing position over the keyboard.

3. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 1, in which the means for adjusting each rest block relative to the base plate comprises a single adjusting screw and guide pins located in front and in back of the adjusting screw to prevent the base plate from tipping relative to the keyboard.

4. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 1, in which the striking poppets comprise slender rods which are screw threaded at their upper ends, and in which the operative connection between a striking poppet and its actuating mechanism includes an adjusting nut on the screw threaded portion of the slender rod.

5. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 1, in which the ends of the base plate are provided with downwardly projecting extensions which serve as feet when the player mechanism is removed from the keyboard and placed on a flat surface, these feet being long enough to hold the striking poppet buttons clear of the flat surface.

6. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 1, in which the ends of the base plate are each provided with two downwardly projecting extensions which serve as feet when the player mechanism is removed from the keyboard and placed on a flat surface, one foot at each end being located adjacent the rear of the player mechanism and offset inwardly from the end thereof over the first key of the keyboard, and the other foot at each end being somewhat longer and projecting downwardly in front of the key block.

7. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument having a keyboard comprising, in combination, a thin, elongated base plate, means associated with the base plate for supporting the player mechanism over the keyboard, and a series of similar metal trays separately and removably attached to the base plate in juxtaposed alignment along the top thereof, each tray bearing a plurality of aligned striking poppets for striking keys of the keyboard and a plurality of poppet actuating devices for causing the poppets to strike the keys.

8. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 7, in which individual guides for the striking poppets are mounted in a series of aligned holes through each tray and in which the holes through the trays overlie larger holes through the base plate.

9. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim '7, in which each metal tray has a series of aligned openings therethrough for receiving guides for the striking poppets, and in which each guide has in a side wall thereof a groove to be pressed on to the edge of the opening for holding the guide therein.

10. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim '7, in which each metal tray has a series of aligned openings therethrough for receiving guides for the striking poppets, in which each guide has in a side wall thereof a groove to be pressed on to the edge of the opening for holding the guide therein, and in which each guide is held firmly pressed against the edge of its opening by the poppet actuating means when the latter is secured on the tray.

11. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 7, in which the striking poppets may be individually adjusted vertically with respect to the trays to accommodate for variations in key heights and bring each poppet to the desired distance above its key.

12. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 7, in which individual guides for the striking poppets are 11 mounted on the trays, and. in. which each striking poppet. is in the form of a slender rod having on its lower end a. button for striking a key and on its upper end an adjustable collar operatively connected to the movable board of an action pneumatic mounted on the tray.

13. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according toclaim 7, in which individual guides for the striking poppets are mounted on the trays, in whichv each striking P ppet-is. in the form of a. slender rod having on itslo ver end a button for striking a key and on its upper end. an operative connection to a poppet actuating device, and in which each striking poppet. has operatively associated therewith resilient means normally lifting the poppet button. away from its key.

14. An automatic player mechanism for a musical. instrument according to claim 7, in which thestrikingpoppets are separately secured on the trays. so that they maybe. individually adjusted or removed and replaced without disturbing the adjacent. poppets.

15.. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 7, in which each. tray bears a plurality of action pneumatics, one for each striking poppet.

16. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument. according toclaim 7, in which each; tray bears a plurality of action pneumatics, one for each striking poppet, and in which the action pneumatics are separately secured on the trays so that they may be. individually removed and replaced without disturbing the adjacent striking pneumatics.v

1'7. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument having a keyboard comprising, in combination, a thin, elongated base plate of substantially the same. length as the keyboard, stiffening flanges. extending lengthwise of the base plate along itsv edges, an elongated tubular exhaust chest, rectangular in trans verse section, and secured at one edge. to the top of the base plate substantially midway between its flanged. edges for iurther reinforcing the thin. basev plate, means associated. with the base plate for supporting the player. mechanism over the keyboard, a plurality of aligned striking poppets supportedv by the base plate over the keys for striking the keys, a plurality of action pneumatics supported by the base plate and. operatively associated with the striking poppets, valved connections between the exhaust. chest and the action pneumatics, and playing means also. supported by the base plate for controlling the. operation of the action pneumatics.

18. An automatic. player mechanism for a musical instrument having a keyboard comprising, in combination, a thin, elongated base plate. of substantially the same length. as the keyboard; anelongated tubular exhaust chest secured to the. top of the base plate. intermediate its longitudinal edeesmeans associated with the base plate. for. supporting the. player mechanism over the keyboard, a plurality of aligned striking poppets supported by the base plate and extending, downwardly through openings therein over the keys. for striking the keys, a plurality of acti'on. pneumatics supported by the base plate and operatively associated. with the. striking poppets,

valved connections between the exhaust chest and the action pneumatics, and playing means also. supported by the base plate for controlling the operation of the. action pneumatics.

19.; An automatic player mechanism. for a musicalyinstruinent according to claim 18, in which the striking poppets and poppet actuating devices are mounted in unit groups on metal trays which are separately and removably attached to the base plate.

20. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 18, in which the guides for the striking poppets and the. poppet atuating devices are mounted in unit groups on trays which are separately and removably attached tothe base plate, and in which an edge of each tray is provided with a forwardly projecting finger which extends downwardly through an opening in the base plate and engages the bottom thereof to hold the edge of the tray firmly against the base plate.

21. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 18, in which the guides for the striking poppets and the poppet actuating devices are mounted in unit groups on trays which are separately and rem0vably attached to the base plate, and in which an edge of each tray is provided with a forwardly projecting finger which extends downwardly through an opening in the base plate and engages the bottom thereof to hold the edge, of the tray firmly against the base plate, and in which the finger is formed as an integral part of the tray.

22. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 18, in which the guides for the striking poppets and the poppet actuating devices are mounted in unit groups on trays which are separately and removably attached. to the base plate, and in which an edge of each tray is provided with a forwardly projecting finger which extends downwardly through an opening in the, base plate and engages the bottom thereof to hold the edge of the tray firmly against the base plate, and in which the finger is formed as a part of a, poppet guide mounted in an. opening through the. tray. 7

23. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument having a keyboard comprising, in combination, a thin, elongated base plate, a tubular stifieni'ng member providing amain exhaust chest extending substantially the entire length. of the base plate and secured on the top thereof intermediate the sides of the base plate, a controlled exhaust chest substantially co-extensive with and secured on top. of the main exhaust chest, means associated with the base plate for supporting the player mechanism over the keyboard, a plurality of striking poppets and action pneumatics mounted on the base plate in alignment on opposite sides of the exhaust chest, and valved connections between each of the said action pneumatics and the controlled exhaust chest.

24. An automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument according to claim 23, in which the striking poppets for the. black keys are mounted on the back side of the exhaust chest and the striking poppets for the white keys are mounted in front of the exhaust chest.

25.. A multiple action unit adapted to be juxtaposed in line with. similar units on a common base plate to form an automatic player mechanism for a musical instrument having a. key board comprising, in combination, a metal tray having a row of aligned openings adjacent one edge, a striking poppet guide located in each of the aligned openings, the guides being smaller than the openings so that they may be removably inserted therein and. each having a groove in its side wall to be pressed on. to the edge of the open- 13 ing for holding the guide therein, striking poppets mounted in the guides, and a plurality of actuating devices secured on the tray for causing the striking poppets to strike the keys of the keyboard.

26. A multiple action unit according to claim 25, in which the openings in the tray have slots slightly smaller than the guides and in which the guides are grooved so as to fit snugly when moved from the main openings into the slots.

27. A multiple action unit according to claim 25, in which each guide is locked against the edge of the opening by direct contact of the poppet actuating means therewith when the latter is secured in position on the tray, and in which that portion of the poppet actuating means in contact with the guide is held firmly against the tray by interlocking engagement with the guide, and in which that portion of the poppet actuating means remote from the guide is secured to the tray by means of an upturned flange on the tray.

28. A multiple action unit according to claim 25, in which each guide is locked against the edge of the opening by direct contact of the poppet actuating means therewith when the latter is secured in position on the tray, and in which that portion of the poppet actuating means in contact with the guide is held firmly against the tray by interlocking engagement with the guide, and in which that portion of the poppet actuating means remote from the guide is secured to the tray by means of an upturned flange on the tray and a set screw in the flange.

29. A multiple action unit according to claim 25, in which each guide is locked against the edge of the opening by direct contact of the poppet actuating means therewith when the latter is secured in position on the tray, and in which that portion of the poppet actuating means in contact with the guide is held firmly against the tray by interlocking engagement with the guide, and in which that portion of the poppet actuating means remote from the guide is secured to the tray by direct frictional contact with a short upturned flange on the tray.

PETER T. CALAMARI. PAUL F. MURDOCK.

No references cited. 

